Cass Tech's Jayru Campbell. / Diane Weiss/Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Free Press Staff

“I would say I have opened up the recruiting process again and decommitted from Michigan State,” Campbell said in an interview with Detroit’s WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) that aired late Monday night. “I’m just trying to enjoy the recruitment process for my last year in high school.”

Campbell, a 2015 recruit who will be a senior in the fall, made a verbal commitment in August to play for MSU. That was before he was arrested for body slamming a 23-year-old Cass Tech security officer in January. The incident was caught on video and widely circulated.

He was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, a felony, and aggravated assault, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor in a plea deal struck last month, and the felony charge was dismissed.

Campbell, who told WXYZ he has been taking anger management classes on Saturdays, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, probation and community service last month for the assault that occurred in a school hallway. He must turn himself in July 28, which gives him time to complete summer school. Then he will begin serving the final 57 days of his sentence — he was credited with three days spent in custody — in the Wayne County Jail.

Campbell’s decommitment from MSU is not a surprise. At least two major recruiting websites — Rivals.com and Scout.com — have not listed him as a commitment for some weeks. Plus, in April, the Spartans added another quarterback to next year’s recruiting class when Brian Lewerke of Phoenix verbally committed.

MSU coaches cannot comment on recruits until they have signed national letters of intent.

WXYZ reported that Cass Tech football coach Thomas Wilcher told the station that Campbell was now considering Cincinnati, Miami (Fla.) and LSU. According to rivals.com, he also has scholarship offers from Alabama, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

“I’m not a thug,” Campbell told WXYZ. “I would not consider myself as a criminal. I would consider myself as a natural-born leader and someone that likes to help others.

“I have apologized to him (the security officer) in the court room, in front of the cameras and, you know, once again I hope that he forgives me and one day finds it in his heart to forgive me. I just want to say I apologize again.”

Campbell said he now realizes the severity of the situation.

“I’ve learned from this situation,” he said. “I’ve moved on from it. I would definitely say everybody deserves a second chance. These last six months I’ve never prayed so much and God really showed me a lot of answers.

“I’ve just learned violence is not the answer. There’s different ways you can solve a problem.”